It is estimated that more than 800 million pounds of wholesome food is discarded from retail grocery stores in the United States. The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank partners with grocery stores and other retailers to keep that food out of the waste stream and move it into homes in our community.

The Food Bank’s branch managers works closely with store managers and receiving teams to sort close-to-code food that is no longer shelf-worthy but is still wholesome and pick-up that food by the Food Bank’s refrigerated trucks, or directly by our member agencies.

In fiscal year 2015, the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and our retail program partners saved more than 7.6 million pounds of wholesome food from the waste stream and distributed that food to neighbors in central and western Virginia.

Grocers who would like to donate should call Greg Knight at (540) 213-8421 to discuss a partnership. Our team will meet with your store management team to explain the value of donating and best donation practices.